diff --git a/ortools/linear_solver/proto_solver/highs_proto_solver.cc b/ortools/linear_solver/proto_solver/highs_proto_solver.cc
index 487e8b6313..5a0c564e9e 100644
--- a/ortools/linear_solver/proto_solver/highs_proto_solver.cc
+++ b/ortools/linear_solver/proto_solver/highs_proto_solver.cc
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ absl::StatusOr<MPSolutionResponse> HighsSolveProto(
 
   Highs highs;
   // Set model name.
-  if (model.has_name()) {
+  if (model.has_name() && !model.name().empty()) {
     const std::string model_name = model.name();
     highs.passModelName(model_name);
   }